You’re standing on the sideline, the Friday night lights are buzzing, and the offensive coordinator screams "Double Right, 792!" to the quarterback. If you’re a wide receiver, those numbers aren't random. They are your coordinates. Specifically, they're the DNA of the route tree football 0 9 system, a numerical language that has governed the passing game from Pop Warner to the NFL for decades. It's basically a shorthand code. Without it, play-calling would be a chaotic mess of descriptive sentences that would take five minutes to say in a huddle.
Football is a game of geometry disguised as a collision sport.
Most people think receivers just "run deep" or "go short." That’s not how it works at the high levels. Every step is measured. Every break is angled. The route tree is the map that keeps the quarterback and the pass-catcher on the same page. If the QB thinks you're running an 8 and you run a 2, that ball is going straight into the hands of a corner who’s going to take it the other way for six points. Honestly, it’s the difference between a high-octane offense and a total disaster.
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Breaking Down the Basic Route Tree Football 0 9 Logic
Before we get into the weeds of the individual routes, you've gotta understand the numbering logic. It’s actually pretty intuitive once you see it. Generally, even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) break toward the middle of the field—inside. Odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) break toward the sideline—outside. This isn't just a random choice; it’s a mental trigger. If you hear a "7," your brain should immediately think "outside and deep."
It’s about efficiency.
The "0" and "9" are the bookends. Zero is usually the shortest, most immediate route, while nine is the ultimate vertical threat. But don't get it twisted—different coaching trees (like the West Coast Offense versus the Air Coryell) might swap a few numbers around. However, the 0-9 framework remains the industry standard.
The Flat and the Slant (0 and 1)
Let's start at the bottom. The 0 Route is commonly known as the Hitch or sometimes a Smoke or Gift route. It’s the ultimate "take what they give you" play. The receiver takes three steps, stops on a dime, and turns back to the quarterback. It’s boring. It’s gritty. But if a cornerback is playing ten yards off, it’s a free five yards every single time.
Then you have the 1 Route, the Flat. This is an outside break. The receiver pushes upfield maybe two or three yards and then darts toward the sideline. It’s designed to stretch the defense horizontally. You see this a lot with tight ends or "Z" receivers in motion. It’s a quick-game staple.
The Slant and the Out (2 and 3)
The 2 Route is the Slant. This is probably the most famous route in football history. Jerry Rice made a career out of the 3-step slant. You plant that outside foot, hard, and explode at a 45-degree angle toward the middle of the field. It’s a timing route. The ball should be hitting the receiver's hands the moment they break.
The 3 Route is the Speed Out. Like the flat, it goes toward the sideline, but it’s deeper—usually 5 to 7 yards. It’s a "sideline-to-sideline" move. If the corner is playing "inside leverage" (meaning he’s trying to keep you from going to the middle), you punish him with a 3.
The Intermediate Game: 4, 5, and 6
This is where the route tree football 0 9 system gets physical. This is the "dirty" area of the field, 10 to 15 yards deep, where linebackers are looking to take your head off and safeties are lurking.
The Curl and the Comeback
The 4 Route is the Curl (sometimes called a Hook). It’s an inside break. You sell the deep ball, get the defender backpedaling like crazy, and then you "hook" back toward the QB at about 12 yards. It’s a beast to defend because the receiver's body acts as a shield against the defender.
The 5 Route is the Out. This is the 10-yard version of the 3 route. It requires a lot of arm strength from the quarterback because that ball has to travel a long way through the "honey hole" of the coverage. In the NFL, this is a "pro-cut." If you can't throw a 5 route, you aren't playing on Sundays.
The Dig (6 Route)
The 6 Route is the Dig or In. You go 10-12 yards deep and make a hard 90-degree turn across the middle. It’s different from a slant because of the depth. You’re running behind the linebackers but in front of the safeties. It takes guts to run a 6. You know you’re going to get hit. But against a Zone defense? It’s a killer.
The Deep Threats: 7, 8, and 9
Now we’re talking. This is the vertical game. This is where the big money is made.
The Corner and the Post
The 7 Route is the Corner (or "Flag"). You're heading for the back pylon of the endzone. It’s an outside, deep break. It’s the natural enemy of "Cover 2" defense because it puts the safety in a terrible position. Do they help on the sideline or stay in the middle? Usually, they're too late.
The 8 Route is the Post. Opposite of the corner. You're breaking toward the goalposts. This is where guys like Tyreek Hill destroy lives. If a receiver has a step on the corner, the 8 route is a touchdown. Period.
The Go Route (9 Route)
The 9 Route is the Go, Fly, or Streak. It’s the simplest route in the book: just run. Run as fast as you can. No breaks, no cuts, just pure speed. It’s called a 9 because it’s the "highest" number—the maximum extension of the field.
Why Do Coaches Use Numbers Instead of Names?
You might wonder why we don't just say "Run a Post!" Well, imagine you’re an offensive coordinator. You have three receivers, a tight end, and a running back. If you have to describe every route to every player, the play-call would be: "Okay, Steve run a post, John run a dig, Mike run a flat, and Todd run a swing."
That’s a mouthful.
Instead, they use a "digit system." A play like "Tiger Right 882" tells the "X" receiver to run an 8, the "Y" to run an 8, and the "Z" to run a 2. It's surgical. It allows for lightning-fast adjustments at the line of scrimmage. If the QB sees the safety creeping up, he can audibilize "9-9-9" and suddenly everyone is going deep.
Common Misconceptions About the Route Tree
One thing people get wrong is thinking the route tree is a rigid set of tracks like a train. It’s not. It’s more of a guideline. A "12-yard Dig" might become a "14-yard Dig" depending on where the first down marker is.
Also, the "tree" changes based on the personnel. A 6 route for a 6'5" tight end looks a lot different than a 6 route for a 5'10" slot receiver. The big guy might use his frame to box out, while the smaller guy uses a "jab step" to create separation.
Another myth? That every team uses the exact same 0-9 system. While the general "Even-In, Odd-Out" rule is standard, some systems—like the one popularized by the late Mike Leach—rely more on "concepts" (like Mesh or Y-Cross) rather than specific individual numbers for every player. Still, even in those systems, the fundamental breaks of the route tree football 0 9 are the building blocks.
The Evolution: Routes "Between" the Numbers
In the modern era, we’ve seen the rise of "option routes." This is where the route tree gets complicated. A receiver might be told to run a 4 (Curl), but if the defender plays it perfectly, he has the "option" to turn it into a 5 (Out). This requires an insane amount of chemistry. If the QB thinks you're staying inside and you break out, the ball goes to the defense.
Think about the New England Patriots during the Brady/Edelman era. Their "route tree" was almost psychic. They weren't just running numbers; they were reading the leverage of the defender and adjusting the number on the fly.
Actionable Insights for Players and Coaches
If you're looking to master the route tree, whether you're a player, a Madden enthusiast, or a coach, here is how you actually get better at it:
- Master the "Plant and Drive": A route is only as good as the break. Don't "round" your routes. If it’s a 6 (Dig), it should be a sharp 90-degree turn. Practice planting your outside foot and driving your hips toward the target.
- The "Stem" Matters: Every route starts with the "stem"—the first few yards of the run. If you run every route the same way for the first five yards, the defender has no idea if you’re running a 1 or a 9. That’s how you create "deception."
- Study the Leverage: Look at where the defender’s feet are. If his "toes are pointed toward the sideline," he’s trying to force you inside. Use your route tree knowledge to exploit that. If he wants you inside, sell the inside move and then break on an "Odd" number (like a 3 or 7).
- Conditioning is Key: You can't run a 9 route effectively in the 4th quarter if your legs are toasted. The route tree requires explosive bursts. Interval training is way more important for receivers than long-distance running.
- Quarterback-Receiver Sync: Spend time running "routes on air" (no defense). The QB needs to know exactly when your head is going to turn on a 4 or a 6. That timing is the difference between a completion and an incompletion.
The route tree football 0 9 system isn't just a list of directions. It’s the foundational language of the sport. It turns eleven individuals into a single, cohesive unit capable of moving the ball down the field with mathematical precision. Next time you're watching a game on Sunday, try to spot the numbers. When you see that receiver snap his head back toward the QB at 12 yards, you’ll know: that’s a 4. When he disappears toward the corner of the endzone? That’s a 7. It’s all right there in the numbers.